Emissions trading scheme on hold for agriculture

The government yesterday confirmed a delay of the extension of the emissions trading scheme to agriculture.

The government yesterday confirmed a delay of the extension of the emissions trading scheme to agriculture.

In a discussion paper following the first mandatory review of the scheme (which recommended bringing agriculture into the scheme in 2015), it said a review would be undertaken in 2014 to that end.

“With regard to agriculture’s inclusion in the ETS, the government’s
position is clear. Agriculture will enter only if our trading partners
make more progress on tackling climate change, and there are practical
technologies for farmers to reduce emissions,” said primary industries minister David Carter.

Yesterday's document also proposed introducing more overt powers for the government to auction New Zealand carbon units; introducing offsetting for pre-1990 forest landowners and a review of the level of compensation; and a more gradual phase out of the transition measures put in place for business.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman supported the moves to restrict the amount of overseas
offsets companies can use but hit back against the other measures.

“Delaying the phase out of ‘transition
measures’, holding the cap on the market price of
emissions – against advice – as well as possible
further delays to the introduction of agriculture is
irresponsible," he said.

“When Labour introduced the ETS it was weak –
National’s amendments have made it worse and led to
taxpayer’s funding pollution."

said

The delay on deciding when to put a price on agriculture emissions, which make up almost half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gases, was also slammed by WWF-New Zealand.